Puzzle or game apparatus.



Z. 0 m 2 2 I u l. d e .t n e t a P on E E .M .L 9 B 5 U 7 O. N

. PUZZLE 0R GAME APPARATUS.

[Application filed Aug. 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR wiif f $2 v I 1 'By Azzorneys, 1 Q @ubfiam.

cams P rrzns co., vum'aumu, WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIZABETH MEYER, OF SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT.

PUZZLE OR GAME APPARATUS.

I SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,269, dated July 22, 1902. Application filed August 20, 1901. fierial No.721661. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

BeitknownthatI,EL1zABE'rHMEYER,asubject of the Emperor of Germany, residing in Springfield, in the county of Windsor and illustrating embodiments of my invention,-

. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a diametric section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the apparatus slightly modified.

The elements of my improved puzzle or game apparatus are one or more beads or apertured balls and one or more pins, upon the ends of which the balls are to be strung, the

balls being of course supported-as, for example, on the floor of a receptacle in which the pinsare also located. Preferably the pins are the samein number as the balls and I v are arranged to extend radially from a central hub which is pivoted on the floor of the receptacle and which may be turned to point the several pins in any desired direction.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a receptacle in the shape of a shallow cylindrical box preferably, but not necessarily, without a cover. Pins B are arranged in said box extending substantially parallel to the floor thereof and preferably, as shown, extending radially from a hub 0. Any number of pins B may be used, five being shown as a convenient number. The hub G is preferably pivoted on the fioor of the receptacle A, any suitable method of pivoting the same 7 being used. I prefer, however, to provide merely a short nail or tack D, having its head below the floor and its body projecting up from the bottom, over which the hub O is placed and fits loosely, as shown. By means of this construction the hub and pins may be lifted out of the receptacle at will or centered therein simultaneously.

for rotation. This feature of a detachable hub is advantageous where a plurality of balls is used. In such case it is impracticable to secure and retain a ball upon each of the pins One or two are to be caught and deposited outside of the receptacle by lifting out the hub and pins,-the latter being then returned to catch other balls. The upper part of the hub G is conveniently shaped to be held between a thumb and finger in turning it, as shown at E. The exact shape and construction of the pins and hub as described is not necessarily to be followed. The pins B, for example, may be made curved, as at B, Fig. 3, so as to make it easier for the end of the pin to enter the aperture in the bead. Obviously, also, the hub 0 might be permanently fastened, as by a screw D, passing through the center, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and screwing into the floor of the receptacle.

Within the receptacle and free to roll about on the fioor thereof I provide any number of apertured balls F of any suitable material.

Ordinary colored glass beads, for example, 7.

might serve the purpose, or the balls might be specially made of anydesired material, be-

ing colored either all the same or differently. The pins also might be made of different colors to match the balls. The same number of balls'may be provided as there are pins ora greater orless number. The balls might be given different numbers, as indicated, and might be made of difierent sizes and of differently-sized apertures, so as to make it most difiicult to secure the one carrying the highest number.

The device may be used as a puzzle by a single person, involving dexterity in catching one of the beads on each pin or catching the-beads on the pins in any desired combination, or it may be used as a game apparaor all on separate pins or in any other arrangement agreed upon.

In operation the box is inclined so that a ball is rolled down to engage ever so slightly the end of a pin. Then by continuing to incline the box farther in the same direction the movement of the ball is more and more downward and directly along the pin until it finally becomes surely retained, or the box being held stationary in an inclined position with a ball within range of the end of a pin such end is inserted ever so slightly and the hub is rotated to carry the ball to the highest point, where it naturally slides down along the pin to a secure place.

It will be obvious that my invention provides a device of the greatest simplicity, and yet which is capable of affording considerable amusement and entertainment. It is very cheap to construct and may be made as easy or as difiicult as desired by varying the proportions of parts.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail apparatus embodying my invention, yet it will be understood that I am not to be limited to the specific form shown and described, as various modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a puzzle or game apparatus, the combination of a receptacle, a series of pins extending radially from a hub pivoted on the floor of said receptacle, and a series of balls apertured to permit of their being strung on the ends of said pins by a movement of a ball along the floor, wherebya pin may be turned toward a ball and the inclining of the receptacle will cause such ball to roll down and engage the end of the pin and whereby a farther inclination will cause such ball to engage the pin more securely, said pins being curved at their outer ends to facilitate their entering the aperture in a ball.

2. In a puzzle or game apparatus, the combination of a receptacle, a pivot D consisting of a short nail having its head below the floor and its body projecting upward from the floor of said receptacle, a hub O fitting loosely over said body and free to be lifted therefrom and replaced thereon, a series of pins extending radially from said hub, and a series of balls apertured to permit of their being strung on the ends of said pins by a movement of a ball along the floor, whereby a pin may be turned toward a ball and the inclining of the receptacle will cause such ball to roll down and engage the end of the pin, and whereby a farther inclination will cause such ball to engage the pin more securely.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIZABETH MEYER.

Witnesses:

W. D. WOOLSON, GRACE A. HAZEN. 

